2018 Mississippi Nurses Association Annual Convention Yearbook

2018 Mississippi Nurses’ Association Annual Convention
In this role, I would bring many new and innovative ideas to advance nursing
practice in our state while ensuring all appropriate legal and ethical standards
are met within our scope of practice. I know that any and all decisions made that
affect nursing practice also have a direct or an indirect impact on the patients
we serve, and I will be a strong and passionate advocate for nursing in order to
ensure each and every patient receives the highest quality patient and family
centered care based on nationally proven best practices.
As outlined in my resume, my lifelong commitment and dedication to the
nursing profession has provided me a wealth of experience, knowledge, and
awareness that will guide me in my responsibility to advance nursing practice
by serving in the role of the Mississippi Nurses' Association's Director of the
Council on Nursing Practice.
Debra Rhinewalt, BSN, CHPN
Biographical Profile: Since graduation from Mississippi University for Women’s Associate of Science
in Nursing, I have been fortunate to serve on the Nursing School Advisory
Council. My career has led me to Palliative Care nursing, which truly opened
my eyes to the lack of training for nurses in this area. Due to increasingly strict
admission and discharge criteria, I am finding patients are literally “dying” to
get into the hospital. The “baby boomer” generation is living longer with many
co-morbid conditions. Fragmented healthcare has placed nurses in a position
being the one who “brings it all together” for many patients and families. It is
imperative that we train nurses in the current trends in healthcare which can
increase the quality of care for our patients and their families.
Statement of Intent:
I find it an exciting challenge to have the opportunity to be considered to serve
on the Mississippi Nurses’ Association Board of Directors in the capacity of
Director of the Council on Nursing Practice.
I have had ICU, home hospice, and palliative care experience. The last six years,
I have served as the Clinical Coordinator of Palliative Care in our hospital.
Being an older non-traditional student (graduated from MUW at 50) I had many
life skills and situations to draw from when caring for seriously ill patients
and families. I experienced first-hand the uncertainty and apprehension of a
younger generation of nurses and felt “called” to reach out and offer support by
means of education in this area.
In 2015, I attended an End of Life Nursing Education Consortium Train-the-
Trainer Program. After which, I presented to our hospital administration a plan
to educate our staff in these principles. Explaining this education would aid our
nursing staff to provide optimal care for our patients suffering from ongoing
serious illness and the complications thereof. In 2016, I became a Certified
Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN). The last three years I have led in
the development of this education which has been offered three times each
year. I must admit the first year it was a slow process but today I have nurses
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